Artisan&Artist ACAM 7100 Mini-Review

[carstenw]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have just received the Artisan & Artist ACAM 7100 bag (Artisan&Artist Bags Japan) a couple of days ago, and have fallen in love with it. This is the bag which used to be sold in the States and the U.K. known as the "Oskar's One Day Bag" (Artisan&Artist Bags U.S.A.).

 

It is relatively compact, having outside and inside dimensions of W300×H200×D100mm and W270×H160×D90mm, respectively. It has a strap which goes from the complete one side of the bag to the complete other side of the bag, but does not run underneath. There is a generous non-slip shoulder pad built on to the strap.

 

It arrived very quickly (much quicker than the charge to my credit card, which has not happened yet) from Japan (I could not find it elsewhere; they speak English well, and can be contacted here: Artisan&Artist Contact Info). The price was 18900 Yen, plus 3250 Yen for shipping to Germany. This all works out to be about 135 Euro, which is quite a deal, considering the quality of construction. It was packaged carefully in a box, in a disposable, but nice to keep for storage purposes, paper-cloth bag, as well as a full catalog of many nice and interesting items. I suspect I will buy more things there in the future.

 

In the following images, I have substituted the Leica M8+50 Lux Asph with my M6+50 Cron DR, which is roughly the same size.

 

The contents are as follows:

 

Back pocket: sometimes a small book, but not today.

Front flap pocket: map and lens cleaning tissue.

Front pocket 1: 1.25x loupe, angle finder, extra battery, macro adapter in bag.

Front pocket 2: cellphone, ballhead, 75 Lux shade

Inside net pocket: pens, pencil, 2mm Allen key (!), keys

Main pocket, in front of padding: Moleskine, passport

Main pocket, side of padding: Leica table top tripod

Main pocket, back of padding: magazine

Main pocket, inside padding: M8+50 Lux Asph, CV15+75 Lux, 35/2A+90/4M.

 

I stack the lenses back-to-back, ie. with the back covers touching. These seem tougher and I don't care if they get a little scratched. I have placed the inside dividers on a slight angle to make the bag less thick front-to-back and to make the wells hug the lenses tighter, so that one cannot slide past the other and damage it. There is a clasped strap sitting between the front pockets which can be clasped to the hasp (?) by the inside net pocket. This keeps the bag from flopping into a "fatter" shape, front-to-back, which I appreciate. The bag is very full, but not bursting, with the contents I have. I don't know what I will do when my WATE and 28 Cron arrive, but I will think of something I am sure. Probably I will leave the 75 Lux at home, or maybe carry a lens in a jacket pocket.

 

I highly recommend the bag. My only change so far would be to make it perhaps 2cm longer to hold larger magazines, to make the padding perhaps 1-2cm taller to better hold two lenses like the 75 Lux/CV15 combo, and to add one external side-pocket for the tripod, but really, these are tiny niggles.

 

Questions are welcome.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[chilihead]

Mant thanks for the great and well shot review on this bag! It will be my next purchase as it is exactly what I need for my M4 and Pentax Digital spot! Thanks and all the best.

[carstenw]

Thanks for the comment. For smaller kits, you may also want to consider the more compact GCAM 7200: Artisan&Artist Japan

[geoffreyg]

Thanks for the comment. For smaller kits, you may also want to consider the more compact GCAM 7200: Artisan&Artist Japan

 

I have that and recommend it. Keeps one slim. Its pretty small and convenient. Very well made.

[Woody Campbell]

I too have this bag - it's more or less in constant use. I use exactly the same kit (including tripod) but a slightly different lens selection. I often include a gps, a small notebook and a map or guide. In the top mesh compartment I keep two batteries, a supplemental finder, allen wrenches (one for the rangefinder and one for the Kirk plate that lives on my camera), 1.25 magnifier when it's not on the camera, a hotshoe spirit level and an extra memory card. This kit is self-sufficient for days and days of shooting.

 

On the subject of batteries I found a small case designed for an ipod mini at Staples, which when cut in half fits the battery perfectly - I put charged batteries in cases and leave discharged batteries out, the same convention I use with the caps on my Canon batteries.

 

The strap is long enough to carry it as is if were a messenger bag, which is what it looks like, which is more secure and better balanced than hanging it from a shoulder.

[mreddington]

I have just received the Artisan & Artist ACAM 7100 bag (Artisan&Artist Bags Japan) a couple of days ago, and have fallen in love with it. This is the bag which used to be sold in the States and the U.K. known as the "Oskar's One Day Bag" (Artisan&Artist Bags U.S.A.).

 

Thanks for the info. That looks just what I am looking for - a bag that is narrower than most SLR camera bags and that doesn't cry out "expensive camera inside". I have contacted them in Japan for info.

 

I am also thinking about the table tripod. Do you find yourself using it often? And what ballhead do you have? It looks shorter than the Leica one.

 

Martin

[tashley]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

It looks very similar to my new (I am constantly searching for the right bag too!) Billingham L2 into which I can comfortably get:

 

CV15 and 35

50 Lux (on camera)

Wate and Frankenfinder

90mm ME

 

With plenty of space left to add my 28 cron when it returns, and to swap the CV35 for my 35 cron when it returns. I suspect I could also get a 75 cron in it. Plus it will take quite a bit of cell phone/lens cloth/note book type stuff.

 

I just wish the fastening straps were less fiddly and the shoulder strap had a wider shoulder bit. But it's the best so far... though maybe I should just try that A&A...

 

Sigh...

 

Best

 

Tim

[Woody Campbell]

There are a variety of good, small ball heads. I use a Manfretto 482 together with the smallest Kirk quick release clamp - the clamp and the small plate on the camera are quicker to use than screwing the head into the camera base plate.

 

Looks like this:

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[carstenw]

I actually own a RRS BH-25 with a quick-release clamp and an ImageTooling plate, but I find this overkill with casual M8 use, so I use the smallest Cullman CU 903 ballhead, which is very cheap, and fine for this usage:

 

CU903 Cullmann Mini Metal Ball Head - 2 1/2" tall, 1" wide

 

I use the tripod mainly as a steadying device for darker situations, but not often as a tripod. See third picture:

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - Tabletop Tripod & Ball Head

 

I find the Leica ballhead too tall, and a bit weird, but there is an older Leitz unit which I will keep my eye open for.

[Cindy Flood]

I really love my Oskar. Today I carried 2 M's w/lenses attached, two additional lenses, batteries, cards, wipes, Sekonic meter, Whibal cards and a few odds + ends. It is so compact and easy to work with.

This looks even better than my original Oskar. The Oskar that I have does not have the mesh compartment inside the flap. I appreciate your review and will look into the other products offered by this firm.

[jlm]

I have one of these A&A Oscar bags that I don't need if anyone is interested.

[mreddington]

I use the tripod mainly as a steadying device for darker situations, but not often as a tripod. See third picture:

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - Tabletop Tripod & Ball Head

 

I find the Leica ballhead too tall, and a bit weird, but there is an older Leitz unit which I will keep my eye open for.

 

Yes, it looks a bit bizarre and from the third picture you referred to it looks as if her eye is quite a distance from the viewfinder. Looks like your and Woody's solutions are better.

[mreddington]

I have one of these A&A Oscar bags that I don't need if anyone is interested.

 

See PM

[Guest guy_mancuso]

I also have this bag , bought it way back in November and for my casual shooting and vacation stuff, nothing can touch it. I also have the Image Smith when I need two bodies and 6 lenses but the day bag if needed can carry a body and 5 lenses stacked plus whatever access.

 

For stacking i use some very small inserts from a lowe pro bag and cut the velcro off

[photolandscape]

The GCAM-7200 looks sorely tempting. Question--is the red material inside pretty soft? So many bags have interior surfaces that are about as soft as fine sand paper. I had a Think Tank bag which is nice, but the top has a zipper that takes a lot of effort to open quickly. I've missed a few good shots for that reason. Would the 7200 be a good solution for someone who carries: 1 M7 usually with the 28mm Elmarit attached, a 90mm Elmarit, and the 15CV with 21mm finder, plus 5-6 cards, extra battery, lens tissue, and occasionally a very small card reader? Would it also accomodate my 80GB Wolverine HD?

 

Thanks.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Steve perfect bag for that and yes it is soft

[carstenw]

Guy, careful, Steve was mentioning the 7200, not the 7100. Do you know that bag? I don't personally. It sounds perfect, except that I don't know if the Wolverine will fit in it, but then, the 7200 is really an Oskar's 1/2 Day Bag, so I think an extra couple of SD cards would replace the Wolverine.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Thanks Carsten I thought he was mentioning the 7100 and yes not sure of the dimensions of the 7200 , maybe Steve compare the dimensions of them. The Wolverine would be the only problem if any but it still could fit in the top zipper i bet

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Guest stnami]

My only change so far would be to make it perhaps 2cm longer to hold larger magazines

........... gets my chuckle of the month............ one of the many pretty bags on the market !

[jlm]

sorry, it's gone

jm